I believe the R-2's were also supercharged aswell.
The bolt doesn't look to hold the rod shut like it does on Buick Straigh 8 or Stovebolt 6 rods so It looks to be anti pin rotation more than anything else. For the lifters I'd soak them in ATF or marvel then get out the torch, C-clamp, and some sort of spacer to put compression on the lifters while you heat them and maybe they'll start to budge.
If that crank is really forged, I'd seriously look into putting big journal SBC stuff in it to open up piston sellection and gaurentee to get the knick out of the journal. Probably best to match the stroke to a rod and piston combo with the deck height.
The R2 was a supercharged one yes ;).I have a friend with a 63 Avanti R2.Sold new in Sweden and he have had the frame off and everything had to be restored.Finding parts for it in the late eighties here in Norway was tough.But when he found the adresses to the stude club,he found almost eveything.
Reading about the rust in the engine.It would be clean and fresh with a acid bath.I had the 454 block that had been used in a boat thrown in...and what a miracle.
Brian we do a ton of Studebakers for a guy in Maynard that runs a Studebaker parts and service company. Man ive taken apart some nasty 289's a few he took out of the woods some that were left outside for 40 years or so, some real nasty stuff.
-jon
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